Seat fuel tank

ABSTRACT

A fuel tank, intended particularly for lightweight aircraft or sports vehicles, which is constructed in the shape of a seat; the tank comprising a rearward and underlying component and a complementary forward and overlying component which are joined together around their margins to form a hollow seat structure, there being a reinforcing member within the tank secured to the forward and overlying component and exposed fastening means for attaching the seat fuel tank to a vehicle.

United States Patent m m m" 5 mm 00 CE 56 99 11 l/ 26 0|. 49 28 22 [72]Inventor Kenneth E. Brock 3084 West Ball Road, Anaheim, Calif.

A 50 W3 8 2 T. u N I E u T m m A n" P N e Gmd re Eew 68 0 68 99 H 63 0930 42 46 9" 0 m 4 M 0 83m ZSUM 94J o d N w n d 0. e mm AFP 1]] 25 224[Ill Primary Examiner-James T. McCall Allorney- Lyon & Lyon intendedparticularly for lightweight which is constructed in the shape of thetank comprising a rearward and underlying component and a complementaryforward and overlying component which are joined together around theirmargins to form a hollow seat structure, there being a reinforcing mm ha mv 8 AM :m T Cm A0 mm 1 Em A aa 42 F WWBS l c-UA EH95 A 8 a m m5 m m n"H n "4 m m u mum?" mmm 5 Km m M m.m A "H" Tr mmh D "um E3 mm s m2 m 1 nn E m h S8 UIF H HUN 5 555 I. [ll

member within the tank secured to the forward and overlying componentand exposed fastening means for attaching the seat fuel tank to avehicle.

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2,758,845 8/1956 Doyle et 280/5 A SEAT FUEL TANK BACKGROUND AND SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION It has been proposed, as disclosed in US. Pat. No.3,098,633, to construct a fuel tank which may be secured to a passengerseat of an aircraft so that when the aircraft has less than the fullcomplement of passengers, the fuel tank may be temporarily strapped inthe empty seat to extend the range of the aircraft. Such tanks usuallymust be designed to be jettisoned as they are too bulky to betransported when not in use. Also, such tanks cannot be used bysingle-occupant aircraft or land vehicles.

The present invention is directed to a fuel tank which also serves as aseat, and is summarized in the following objects:

First, to provide a seat fuel tank which is particularly adapted for useunder exposed conditions such as on small gyrocopters and helicopters orother aircraft wherein the pilot is exposed, as the seat fuel tank whenoccupied adds virtually no wind resistance beyond the wind resistancecreated by the pilot himself.

Second, to provide a seat fuel tank which is particularly simple andinexpensive to manufacture and has minimal weight; the seat fuel tankcomprising two complementary components, a bottom and. back sidecomponent and a top and front side component, the two components beingjoined by their side margins.

Third, to provide a seat fuel tank which may serve as an auxiliary tankas well as a passenger seat and used for fuel whether the seat isunoccupied or occupied.

Fourth, to provide a seat fuel tank which, while particularly adaptedfor small aircraft, is also adapted for use with small sports landvehicles wherein the driver or driver and passenger ride exposed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a substantially diagrammaticalperspective view of a gyrocopter, showing the seat fuel tank mountedthereon.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the seat fuel tank.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view thereof, taken through 3-3 of FIG.2.

The seat fuel tank is intended primarily for use with small aircraftsuch as the gyrocopter l illustrated in FIG. 1, helicopters or otheraircraft where the pilot is exposed rather than seated within afuselage. The seat fuel tank is also applicable to ground vehicles wherethe driver is similarly exposed.

The seat fuel tank includes an underlying component 2 formed oflightweight sheet material such as fiber glass. The underlying componentincludes an essentially horizontal bottom portion 3 joined to an uprightrearward portion 4. The two portions are provided at their remoteextremities and sides with a common peripheral wall 5 which extendsupwardly from the bottom portion 3 and forwardly from the uprightportion 4. The peripheral wall terminates in an intumed marginal flange6.

The seat fuel tank also includes an overlying component 7, also formedof lightweight sheet material such as fiber glass. The overlyingcomponent includes a seat portion 8 which overlies the bottom portion 3and an upright forward portion 9 disposed forwardly of the rearwardportion 4. The extremities of the portions 8 and 9 and their sides areprovided with a common peripheral wall 10 terminating in an intumed marginal flange 11.

The walls 5 and 10 are dimensioned and contoured so that theirrespective flange 6 and 11 confront each other and are adapted to becemented together so that the two components 2 and 7 form a sealedcontainer or tank.

The overlying component 7 is provided with a hollow reinforcing rib 12,preferably formed of fiber glass, and centered between the lateral sidesof the overlying components. The reinforcing rib extends between theextremities of the seat portion 8 and the forward portion 9 and isprovided with side flanges 13 which are cemented to the overlyingcomponent 7. The reinforcing rib is provided with perforations 14 solocated that liquid may readily flow into or out of the space betweenthe rib l2 and the adjacent wall of the overlying component 7. Thebottom portion of the underlying component 2 is provided at its lateralsides and front side with a marginal shoulder 15 against which is fitteda U-shaped mounting tube 16 which is secured in place by fasteningstrips 17 within the bottom portion and fasteners such as bolts and nuts18 extending into or through the mounting tube. Alternatively, or inaddition to the mounting tube the bottom portion 3 may be provided witha mounting plate 19 for attachment to the frame 20 or other part of thegyrocopter or other vehicle. In addition, the upright rearward portion 4may be provided with outwardly extending mounting brackets 21. In eachinstance, the openings through which parts protrude from the underlyingcomponent are completely sealed.

A filler opening 22 is provided at the top end of the upright rearwardportion 3 and receives a cap 23. A suitable fuel outlet 24 is providedin the bottom portion 3.

The seat portion 8 and back portion 9 are made concave to conform to thehuman body and may be covered with padding, not shown.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown anddescribed, it is not intended to limit the same to the details of theconstructions set forth, but instead, the invention embraces suchchanges, modifications and equivalents of the various parts and theirrelationships as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A seat fuel tank comprising:

a. a single-piece underlying component including a horizontal portion,an integral upstanding portion and a continuous integral upwardly andforwardly directed peripheral wall common to said portions;

b. a single-piece overlying component including a horizontal portion, anintegral upstanding portion and a continuous integral downward andrearwardly directed peripheral wall common to said portions;

c. the peripheral walls of the two components being in mutual engagementand sealed together thereby to form a closed tank;

d. the horizontal portion of the overlying component being contoured toform a seat, the upstanding portion being contoured to form a backrestand the connecting regions of the two portions being curved to form atransition zone between the seat and backrest.

2. A seat fuel tank, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. the mutually engaging portions of the peripheral walls areconfronting flanges.

3. A seat fuel tank, as defined in claim I, wherein:

a. at least one hollow perforated rib is secured within the overlyingcomponent and extends between the extremities of the horizontal andupstanding portions.

A seat fuel tank, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. The horizontal and upstanding portions of the underlying componentare provided with mounting means.

5. A seat fuel tank comprising:

a. a hollow essentially L-shaped sealed tank structure; in-

cluding an upwardly facing horizontal portion and a forwardly facingupstanding portion;

b. said portion being transversely concave and contoured at theirjuncture to form a seat and backrest;

c. an inlet to the tank structure at the upper end of the upstandingportion;

d. and an outlet from the tank in the horizontal portion.

6. A seat fuel tank, as defined in claim 5, wherein:

a. the structure includes two complementary components having continuoussidewalls bordering the horizontal portion and upstanding portion, thewalls being sealed together.

. A seat fuel tank comprising:

a. a hollow essentially L-shaped sealed tank structure, in

cluding an upwardly facing horizontal portion and a forwardly facingupstanding portion;

b. said portions being transversely concave and contoured at theirjuncture to form a seat and backrest;

c. an inlet to the tank structure at the upper end of the upstandingportion;

d. an outlet from the tank in the horizontal portion;

e. and a hollow perforated reinforcing rib disposed within the tankstructure and extending between the extremities of the seat andbackrest.

8. A seat for an open, lightweight, engine-powered aircraft such as agyrocopter, the improvement comprising,

a a hollow essentially L-shaped structure comprised of spaced L-shapedcomponents joined in sealed relationship,

b. one L-shaped component having an upwardly facing ex-

1. A seat fuel tank comprising: a. a single-piece underlying componentincluding a horizontal portion, an integral upstanding portion and acontinuous integral upwardly and forwardly directed peripheral wallcommon to said portions; b. a single-piece overlying component includinga horizontal portion, an integral upstanding portion and a continuousintegral downward and rearwardly directed peripheral wall common to saidportions; c. the peripheral walls of the two components being in mutualengagement and sealed together thereby to form a closed tank; d. thehorizontal portion of the overlying component being contoured to form aseat, the upstanding portion being contoured to form a backrest and theconnecting regions of the two portions being curved to form a transitionzone between the seat and backrest.
 2. A seat fuel tank, as defined inclaim 1, wherein: a. the mutually engaging portions of the peripheralwalls are confronting flanges.
 3. A seat fuel tank, as defined in claim1, wherein: a. at least one hollow perforated rib is secured within theoverlying component and extends between the extremities of thehorizontal and upstanding portions.
 4. A seat fuel tank, as defined inclaim 1, wherein: a. the horizontal and upstanding portions of theunderlying component are provided with mounting means.
 5. A seat fueltank comprising: a. a hollow essentially L-shaped sealed tank structure;including an upwardly facing horizontal portion and a forwardly facingupstanding portion; b. said portions being transversely concave andcontoured at Their juncture to form a seat and backrest; c. an inlet tothe tank structure at the upper end of the upstanding portion; d. and anoutlet from the tank in the horizontal portion.
 6. A seat fuel tank, asdefined in claim 5, wherein: a. the structure includes two complementarycomponents having continuous sidewalls bordering the horizontal portionand upstanding portion, the walls being sealed together.
 7. A seat fueltank comprising: a. a hollow essentially L-shaped sealed tank structure,including an upwardly facing horizontal portion and a forwardly facingupstanding portion; b. said portions being transversely concave andcontoured at their juncture to form a seat and backrest; c. an inlet tothe tank structure at the upper end of the upstanding portion; d. anoutlet from the tank in the horizontal portion; e. and a hollowperforated reinforcing rib disposed within the tank structure andextending between the extremities of the seat and backrest.
 8. A seatfor an open, lightweight, engine-powered aircraft such as a gyrocopter,the improvement comprising, a. a hollow essentially L-shaped structurecomprised of spaced L-shaped components joined in sealed relationship,b. one L-shaped component having an upwardly facing exterior horizontalportion and a forwardly facing exterior vertical portion, c. saidportions being transversely concave and shaped to form a contoured seat,d. an inlet located at the upper end of the L-shaped structure forfilling the structure with fuel, e. a removable closure element on saidinlet, f. and an outlet in the lower portion of the L-shaped structureadapted to connect to means for supplying fuel to the aircraft engine.